DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the organization will retire former Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk’s No. 23 jersey on Saturday, January 6, 2018. Hejduk’s No. 23 will be raised to the Pepsi Center rafters prior to the game against the Minnesota Wild, which is now scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop.

DENVER – Former Colorado Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk announced today that he is retiring from the game of hockey.

“I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates,” said Hejduk. “I realized my lifelong dream of not only playing in the NHL but winning a Stanley Cup. My family and I are proud to call Denver home and are enjoying our time together.”

After the Avalanche officially retires Adam Foote’s No. 52 on Nov. 2, there will be only one number from the franchise’s glory years that is deserving of the rafters treatment.

Milan Hejduk’s No. 23.

Then there will be, and should be, a long hiatus until a member of the next, young wave — whether Matt Duchene, Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon or someone else — becomes a bona fide candidate for the honor.

"He wants to keep playing," Hejduk's agent, Jiri Crha said Monday in a phone interview. "If there is any team that really wants to use him for his offensive skills, he still believes he could do it."

The Avs, however, don't appear to be interested. Hejduk, 37, is an unrestricted free agent and Crha said the Avs have informed him he is not in their plans.

"They are very honest about their different plans. They don't believe he can play in their top six of forwards," Crha said. "We just saw a player (Daniel Alfredsson in Ottawa) who left after 17 years with the same team. That's the reality of the hockey life."

Hejduk scored only four goals and 11 points in 29 games with the Avs last season, sometimes being a healthy scratch or playing on the third and fourth line.

"They used him as a checker," Crha said. "It was one of those years. But there's no panic here. No rush. He's feeling very good health-wise again, and I believe when he is in good shape that he is still valuable."

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Milan Hejduk to a one-year contract through the 2012-13 season.

The upcoming 2012-13 campaign will mark Hejduk’s 14th NHL season, all of which has been spent with the Avalanche. He enters the year just nine games shy of becoming the first player in Colorado Avalanche history to appear in 1,000 games. The only other franchise player to reach 1,000 contests was Joe Sakic, who appeared in 508 with Quebec and 870 with Colorado (1,378 total).

“Over the years, Milan has been an instrumental part of our organization’s success,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman. “He has represented this franchise with class and will continue to complement the young nucleus of players we have been building this team around.”

“My family and I are very excited to continue my career here in Denver,” said Hejduk. “I believe in this organization and our young players and look forward to helping the team in any way that I can.”

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that forward Milan Hejduk has been named team captain. The 35-year-old will wear the ‘C’ for the first time tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.

“Milan is a player who leads by example both on and off the ice,” said Avalanche Head Coach Joe Sacco. “He is a product of this organization and won a Stanley Cup with this franchise. He is well respected among his teammates and we feel he deserves this opportunity and responsibility.”

Hejduk, who has served as one of the permanent assistant captains since 2008-09, will become only the third captain in Avalanche history, joining Joe Sakic and Adam Foote. Overall, Hejduk is just the 10th different captain in the franchise’s 32-year history in the National Hockey League. The Usti-nad Labem, Czech Republic native joins Peter Stastny as the only European-born captains in franchise history.

“I’m honored to be named Avalanche captain,” said Hejduk. “From my rookie season here in Colorado, I have always felt a great sense of pride wearing this sweater and being a part of this organization. I am looking forward to this added responsibility.”

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Milan Hejduk to a one-year contract extension through the 2010-11 season.

Hejduk, who is entering his 11th season in the NHL, has spent his entire career with the Colorado Avalanche. Originally selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the fourth round (87th overall) of the 1994 Entry Draft, Hejduk has recorded 312 goals and 345 assists for 657 points in 783 career games. He ranks fourth in franchise history in both games played and goals, and sits fifth in points. Hejduk is the franchise’s all-time leader in regular season overtime goals with nine and his 52 career game-winning tallies rank second in franchise history behind only Joe Sakic (86).

“Milan has been an integral part of this organization over the past 10 seasons,” said Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman. “We are pleased to have him under contract and are counting on his leadership both on and off the ice to help this team move forward into the future.”